GlobalFoundries tech in child porn bust

A technician at the GlobalFoundries computer chip factory is facing federal child pornography charges — and not for the first time.

Adam Rey Gonzalez, 27, of Schenectady, a registered Level 2 sex offender, was arrested Thursday by federal agents after they spoke with him at his workplace in Malta, where he had brought his personal laptop computer, according to court papers.

On Monday, following a detention hearing in U.S. District Court, Magistrate Judge Christian Hummel determined Gonzalez to be both a flight risk and danger to the community. He ordered Gonzalez held without bail at the Rensselaer County jail.

Gonzalez, who has worked at GlobalFoundries since May 2011, is charged with possession, distribution and receipt child of pornography, which carries a range of 5 to 20 years for each count upon conviction.

The agent first noticed Gonzalez was logged into a peer-to-peer file sharing network. Gonzalez, using the identification “Redart-yob,” was sharing three folders — two of which were titled “nudist” and “previewed.” Both were password-protected, court papers said.

The FBI agent, working undercover, chatted online with Gonzalez who, in turn, provided the agent a password to the folders. The agent could not open the folder called “nudist,” but found 16 files of child pornography in the one titled “previewed,” court papers said.

When investigators traced the IP address of the person communicating with the agent, it eventually led them to Gonzalez’ home on Marie Street in Schenectady, where he lives alone.

Gonzalez has also been listed as “Adam Gonzales” and “Adamrey Gonzalez,” court papers said.

Travis Bullard, a spokesman for GlobalFoundries, acknowledged via email Gonzalez was employed as a technician, but added: “We do not comment on individual employee matters or pending legal issues.”

Gonzalez’ attorney, Mark Sacco, told the judge he believed the case against his client was “far from convincing.” He said Gonzalez is among the “best performing employees” at his job and is working toward a bachelor’s degree in business administration at the University at Albany.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne Myers told the judge that Gonzalez not only owns his own home but just bought a new car last year and “has the means and motive to flee.”

In 2007, Gonzalez was convicted of possessing child pornography in Vermont, while employed as a day-care worker. He was sentenced to 2 to 5 years in prison, most of which was suspended with probation imposed instead, an Albany-based FBI agent’s affidavit stated.

Gonzalez was also previously convicted of sexually abusing a boy less than 14 years old, a conviction that was sealed because Gonzalez was given youthful offender status, according to the judge and prosecution.

The judge noted Gonzalez, whose mother was in the courtroom, has also visited relatives in Cuba.

“Most of the evidence in this matter favors detention,” the judge said.

Once again the system failed to protect our children! Its sickening to me that predators have so much access to our children. Probation?? Quite absurd. What more can we do as a community as parents to safeguard our children’s innocence? “Redart Yob” You have to be kidding. Unfraking believable!

This is where mandatory sentencing belongs, not drugs. There are many different dynamics where people wind up dealing drugs, supporting a drug habit etc. People of this nature need incarceration and intense monitoring there after. How many young lives have been ruined by scum like this needlessly?